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Flora Interview

Hi, my name’s Flora. I’m a Chinese, 15 years old girl. I’m a very social person who tends to start conversations rather than ending them. I’m also an aspiring writer (in literature and music).

What inspires you everyday?

Oddly enough, art mostly. My childhood consisted of me reading or looking at drawings, so obviously art became a huge part of my life. The values that the author often hides between the lines of the story are truly life lessons that I learn from daily and that inspires me to be the person that I am today.

What is something you would change about people in the world?

I would change their dependency concerning screens. Nowadays, people can barely start a conversation without stuttering or feeling complelety uncomfortable because they’re so used to communicating by emojis. Let’s be honest, most of us couldn’t spend a week straight without our cell phones and Instagram models that we look up to.

How do you feel about people in the world?

I feel like they’re so quick to judge depending on physical appearance. In society’s minds, if you’re not skinny then you’re unhealthy or fat and ugly, but if you are skinny, then you’re anorexic. Granted, our identity is shown a bit through our clothes and physical appearance but that isn’t enough to muster up one’s full personality.

What is something you’ve struggled with in life?

The pressure that my parents or society itself puts onto my shoulders. Expectations that were thrown at me since my birth because of my gender, my nationality and my physical appearance. I used to live for others and do everything I could to be accepted. I just recently realized that it was wrong for me to do so.

What is a positive message you would give others?

I just want them to know that it’s okay to feel. We’re not weak if we cry or ask for help. We’re not pitiful if we don’t “suck it up”. It’s okay to sob once in a while, to let all the pressure go. It’s fine to take a break from life as long as you come back to it. It’s okay to feel, because that’s what makes us human.

If you could make a difference in the world, how would you do that?

I would try to make people see how beautiful they are. Self-esteem issues are a big problem now, especially for teenagers who are exposed to society’s image of perfection and who are still trying to find themselves. We’re all so gorgeous on the inside, and it saddens me that it’s so hard for some people to see that.